Commenting on the decision by the EU to ban social media for children under 13 and no child under 15 to hold a personal account, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said;
"The European Union's announcement is another sign that governments across the world are waking up to the harm social media is causing children and young people. The debate is no longer about whether action is needed, but how quickly politicians are prepared to act.
"Social media platforms have shown time and time again that safety is not a priority, and their algorithms are designed to keep children scrolling, regardless of the consequences. Regulation and strict measures are the only way to protect our children from the unchecked power of Big Tech.
"The measures proposed in Europe are an important step, but the UK has an opportunity to go further by delivering o plans to raise the age of social media access to 16. Our own evidence has shown that children can be exposed to harmful content within minutes of creating an account. Delaying action means more children being exposed to risks that can have lasting consequences.
"The Government must now show leadership and move quickly to implement its plans. Children cannot afford further delays, and ministers must not allow Big Tech lobbying to water down the protections that parents, teachers and the public are increasingly calling for."